Ajay Kumar at 21:08, 23 July 2023

2023-07-23T21:08:44Z

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{{Short description|Sikh preacher (1553-1643)}}{{Udasi}}

'''Bhai Almast''' (26 August 1553 – 1643) was a Sikh preacher, leader of a branch of the [[Udasi]] ''[[Sampradaya]]'', and the elder brother of [[Bhai Balu Hasna]], another prominent preacher of the Udasi sect.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Harbans |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/29703420 |title=The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism |date= |publisher=Punjabi University, Patiala |others= |year=1992–1998 |isbn=0-8364-2883-8 |volume=4 |location=Patiala |page=377 |oclc=29703420}}</ref>

==Early life==
Almast was born on August 26, 1553, in a [[Gaur Brahmins|Gaur Brahmin]] family of [[Srinagar]] ([[Kashmir]]) to Bhai Hardatt and Mai Prabha. His birth name was Alu, but due to his inclination towards mysticism and disinterest in worldly affairs, he became known as Almast, which means "in a state of ecstasy." He was also referred to as Kambalia or Godaria because of his simple clothing made from a kambal or godari.

At a young age, Alu left home to seek spiritual knowledge and eventually ended up in Dera Baba Nanak in 1574, where he became a follower of [[Sri Chand|Baba Shri Chand]], the founder of the Udasi sect and the son of [[Guru Nanak]]. Almast served at the mausoleum of Guru Nanak and tended to goats for a living. [[Baba Gurditta]], the eldest son of [[Guru Hargobind]], later appointed Bhai Almast to spread the message of [[Guru Nanak]] in the eastern provinces.

==Later Life==
Bhai Almast established a shrine in Puri, Orissa, to commemorate Guru Nanak's visit to the [[Jagannath Temple, Puri|Jagannath temple]]. He then moved to [[Nanakmatta|Nanak Mata]] in Gorakh Mata, where [[Guru Nanak]] had a discourse with [[Nath|Nath yogis]] under a pipal tree, and a shrine dedicated to Guru Nanak had been established. However, this site had been taken over by the yogis, who destroyed the Sikh shrine and burnt down the pipal tree. Bhai Almast sought help from [[Guru Hargobind]], who restored the [[Nanakmatta|Sikh shrine]] and rejuvenated the pipal tree through miraculous means.

=== Missionary work ===

==== Eastern India ====
After this incident, Bhai Almast spent the rest of his life in Nanak Mata and sent out eight principal disciples to preach in various districts of eastern India. These disciples established Sikh shrines in places visited by Guru Nanak during his first [[Udasi]] or preaching journey.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Bhupender |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GZOjEAAAQBAJ&dq=Balu+Hasna&pg=PA119 |title=BABA NANAK SHAH FAKIR |date=2022-12-23 |publisher=Blue Rose Publishers |isbn=978-93-5704-660-2 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gurudwara Almast Sahib - Nanakmata - World Gurudwaras |url=https://www.worldgurudwaras.com/gurudwaras/gurudwara-almast-sahib-nanakmata/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=www.worldgurudwaras.com |language=en-us}}</ref>

==== Sindh ====
Almast also traveled to Sindh, where he conducted missionary activities and successfully converted many Sindhis to the Udasipanth.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Kalhoro |first=Zulfiqar Ali |date=14 December 2018 |title=Udasi Sikh Saints of Sindh |url=https://www.academia.edu/38014703/Udasi_Sikh_Saints_of_Sindh |website=Originally published on The Friday Times, republished on Academia.edu}}</ref> His place of residence was at Rohri, at the dhuni established by Sri Chand.<ref name=":6" /> Those newly converted appended ''Ram'' or ''Das'' to the end of their names.<ref name=":6" /> He died in 1643.

== See also ==
* [[Bhai Balu Hasna]]
* [[Udasi]]
* [[Sikhism]]
* [[Bhatra Sikhs]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Sikhism}}

[[Category:Sikhism]]
[[Category:Brahmins]]

Bhai Almast - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 21:08, 23 July 2023